Litter handling apparatus



A ril 20, 1954 R. 'w. WATERSTREET LITTER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fiOYW WHTZ/PST/PLZ'T 1477'0/F/VE Y A ril 20, 1954 R. w. WATERSTREET 2,675,991

LITTER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

19770/P/VEY April 20, 1954 R. w. WATERSTREET 2,675,991

' LITTER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1950 4 Sheets$heet 3 k /6 F IgE F76- INVENTOR. R0) W WHTEFST/FEET Patented Apr. 2Q, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to barn litter removal appliances, and particularly to a winch adapted therefor and to litter removal systems.

It is an object of my invention to provide a winch which may at all times be under the control of the operator, that is, in which the stroke or range of the movement of a litter scoop, drawn by said winch, may be varied at the will of the operator.

It is another object of my invention to provide a winch that is controlled by means including the wo k cable.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a Winch that is operatively responsive to a pull or jerk. on the working chain or cable.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a winch including a displaceable driving pinion ear operative to be engaged with and disengaged from a winding drum and gear assembly.

It is a-iurther object of my invention to provide a winch comprising a displaceable driving pinion gear, operative to engage with winding means, including a control lug on the working cable and latch means associated with the driving pinion gear operative to disengage the driving pinion from the winding means and reset the winch preparatory for another cycle of drawing operations.

It is another object of my invention to provide a litter removal system for a pen type of enclosure whereby a winch is pivotally mounted at one end of the pen enclosure for freely swinging to the right and left to enable it to draw litter from various portions of the pen.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a litter removal system whereby a winch is carried on a track to enable it to draw litter from a plurality of gutters transverse to said track.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a litter removal system wherein a winch is mounted on a vehicle which also mounts a scoop, the winch working cable being anchored to any one of a plurality of anchoring means, whereby litter is pushed ahead by the scoop whether it befrom a litter gutter or a pen type enclosure.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accgmpanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the appatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an isometric illustration of a control lug carried by the working chain shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fractional plan view of a pen type enclosure having a pivotal supporting table mounted at one end thereof and a conveyor for the removal of litter therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 5-4; of Fig. 4 including a winch mounted on the pivotal table and a litter scoop drawn thereby;

Fig. 7 is a fractional plan view of a dairy barn showing a table suspended from a track, and adapted to be disposed in line with a plurality of litter gutters, transverse thereto;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the dairy'barn arrangement shown in Fig. 7, including a winch mounted on the table and a scoop being drawn thereby;

Fig. 9 is a fractional plan view of a gutter type dairy barn showing eye-screws anchored in the end wall for the anchoring thereto of the working chain of my winch, and a conveyor for the removal of litter; and

Fig. 1.0 is a sectional view taken along line ill-l0 of Fig. 9, including a winch mounted on a vehicle which also mounts a litter scoop, the winch cable being anchored to an anchor eyescrew in line with a barn gutter.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a winch generally indicated at 29, mounted on a fabricated base generally indicatfid at 2|. 7

The base comprises a pair of spaced longitudinal angle irons 2,2, and 23 (not shown), and a pair of spaced transverse angle irons 24 and 25 secured to said longitudinal members as by welding, to form the rectangular base 2i.

Intermediate the ends of said base are provided a pair of companion upstanding angle iron supporting members 25 and 21, each being mounted on a side base angle iron member as by welding. An angle iron brace 28 is welded across the top ends of said upstanding members 26 and 21 to keep them properly spaced and to otherwise provide rigidity to the structure.

Winding means, such as a drum 29, is mounted rotatively-rigid on revclva'ole shaft 3! which is .iournallcd in the upstanding members 25 and 21.

A spur gear 32 is also mounted rotativelyrigid on shaft 3!, adjacent the winding drum.

To buttress the upstanding members 26 and 2'5 in their vertical position, and to support them against externally applied working forces, bracket braces 33 and 3d are provided and secured as by welding.

Spaced from said spur gear 32 i a driving pinion 35 mounted rotatively-rigid on shaft 36 which is journalled in bearing blocks 31 and 38 (not shown), secured to the base side members as by welding.

An idler gear assembly associated with said pinion 35 is provided, and is constructed and arranged as follows. Pivotally mounted on said drive shaft 36, and astraddle the driving pinion 35, is a pair of upright leg members 39 and 4| having a spacer brace 42 welded across the top thereof. An idler pinion $3 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 40 which is journalled in said legs 39 and 4|, said idler pinion being enmeshed with the driving pinion 35.

Power means are provided comprising a motor 44 mounted on an adjustable plate 45. Said motor drives shaft 36 through means of a sheave 46, mounted rotatively-rigid on the shaft 36, and a connecting belt 41. The adjustable plate 45 is provided with arms 48 and 49 having one end welded thereto, and the other end pivotally connected to lugs 51 and 52 by pins 53 and 54. Said lugs are secured to brace 28 a by welding. A supporting rod 55, having one end welded to the base 2! and the other end passing through an aperture in plate 45, is provided with adjusting nuts 56 and 51, disposed on each side of said plate, for raising or lowering the plate and motor thereon, whereby to tighten the belt 41.

A pair of pins 58 and 59, fixedly secured to bracket brace 33 and 34, pivotally support a pair of rocker arms 6| and 52 which support thereacross a roller 53 journalled therein as by journals 64 and 65.

Pairs of spaced stop pins so, 60 and 10, at are secured in the braces 33 and 34, respectively, to limit the rocking oscillation of said arms.

Brace 66, welded or otherwise secured to and across said arms, retains the arms in spaced relation.

A trip mechanism is provided comprising upright bars 61 and 68 pivotally connected to the rocker arms GI and 62 by pins 59 and H, respectively. and having welded thereto and thereacross a pair of spaced rods 12 and 13, spaced as hereafter described.

A push rod, comprising an eye-bar M, has one end pin connected to upright bar 67 by means of pin 15. The other end is connected to an ear 16 on upright leg member 39 through the following means. Said end is disposed through an over-sized aperture 1'! in ear [6 and positively secured against withdrawal therefrom in a forward direction by a cotter-pin 1B and washer 19. The aperture 11 is bored over-size to accommodate the eye-bar it when the assembly is oscillated. The eye bar 74 is also yieldably secured against displacement in a rearward directionrelative to ear it by means of an initially tensioned compression spring 81 abutting against a washer 82 backed by a cotter-pin 83 and shouldering against ear 16.

A latch member 84, pivotally mounted on 0111 58, is provided with a notch 85 that engages with a projecting pin 86 fixed in leg 38.

An inpact pin 8'', fixed in the end of arm at and spaced from latch 85, operates to transmit an impact unlatching forc from said arm 5! to said latch member 84 when the arm is violently thrust clockwise, as hereinafter described.

Tension springs 88 and 89, having one end hook-connected to the rearward ends of rocker arms El and 62, through apertures 89', and 9| (not shown), and the other ends hook-connected to eye-screws 92 and 93 threadedly engaged in the base member 22 and 23 (not shown), respectively, serve to bias and overbalance the roller carrying ends of the rocker arms, upwardly, limited by stop-pins 6i! and 88, respectively.

Tension spring 94, having one end hook-connected to the end of latch 84 through aperture 95 and the other end hook-connected to eyescrew 96 threadedly engaged in the frame member 22, serves to bias the latch downwardly on the pin 86 thereby urging the notch 35 into engegement with the pin at when they are in registry.

Tension spring 37, having one end hookconnected to the lower end of leg 3E through aperture 98 and the other end hook-connected to the eye-screw E9 threadedly engaged in the base member 24, erves to urge the idler pinion assembly toward the spur gear 32 and into engagement therewith, pivoting about shaft A stop lug liil is secured to the latch member 84 by means of screws m2. Its function is to engage with pin 85 and prevent the idler pinion 43 from enmeshing too deeply and too tightly with the spur gear 32. I

A chain leveling mechanism i provided to direct the chain on the winding drum in neat layers. Said leveling mechanism comprises an oscillatable arm I63 pivotally mounted on brace 28 through means of screw let. A pendant yoke I05 is provided on the end thereof as by welding to guide the chain 196 in layers on the winding drum 29.

A cam follower pin 18"! i fixed in the oscillatable arm I03 and engages in the cam groove Hid provided in cam block I69 which is mounted rotatively-rigid on cam shaft ill. Said cam shaft III is driven by the rotatable shaft 3! through means of a train of gears.

Said train of ears comprises a pinion H2 mounted rotatively-rigid on. drum shaft 35 and meshing with spur gear l 13 formed integral with pinion H4. Said spur gear H3 and integral pinion H4 are rotatably mounted on trunnion H5 supported by upstanding member 2? and secured thereto as by welding. Spur gear HG, disposed to mesh. with pinion H4, has integrally formed therewith a pinion iii. Said spur gear H6 and integrally formed pinion it; are rotatably mounted on trunnion Hi3 supported by upstanding member 2? and secured thereto as by welding. Cam shaft gear iii! is mounted rotatively-rigid on cam shaft Hi and is disposed to enmes'h with pinion I Hi.

A hairline-line, such as a cable, rope, belt, or the like, a chain I is? being preferred, is wound around the drum 29 and has one end secured thereto by screw H9. Said chain is threaded through the yoke I65, trained over roller 63, and is threaded between rods "5'2 and i3. Thence it is projected outwardly and remotely to be con nected to any desired device. It carries a control lug l2l secured thereto.

Said control lug I21, Fig. 3, comprises a sleeve the like (not shown).

7 I22 having a flange I23 intermediate the ends thereof. The chain is threaded through said sleeveand is secured thereto by means of pin I24. The leading end I25 of the sleeve is of a dimensional size to pass between the rods 12 and 13. The flange I23 is of a dimensional size to shoulder against the rods '12 and I3. Said leading end is chamfered as at I25 to be more easily guided between said rods 12 and 13.

Fig. 6 shows the assembled winch 2!! and base ZI applied to the purpose of moving litter. Said Fig. 6, including Figs. 4 and 5, illustrate my first novel litter removal system for a pen type of enclosure I30 whereby the winch 2c is mounted on a. pivotally supported table I21 and is connected to a scoop I28 by means of the chain I05.

The table, of substantial construction, is secured, as by welding, to a vertically disposed shaft I29 journalled in supporting brackets I3I and I32 which are secured to a timber I33 embodied in the pen barn structure I34 by means communicates to the outside.

Disposed in said gutter is an endless belt con veyor I39 embodying a driving pulley I which is adapted to be driven by a motor, engine, or The conveyor is of the conventional type having a belt I42 trained over rollers I43 which are rotatably mounted on shafts I44 that are secured in the sides of the gutter. Side frame members I45 and I-46 are provided to maintain the rollers in spaced assembled position and to support the belt between the rollers.

Operation.--Assume the arrangement of Fig. 6 wherein the winch 2d, diagrammatically shown, is mounted on the pivotal table I27 at one end of the pen I30, and the remote end of the chain I85 being attached to the scoop I28 as shown in Fig. 6.

The normal non-operating position of the winch is as shown in Fig. l, the idler pinion 3-3 assembly being latched in a non engaging position away from the drum gear 32 by means of latch member 84 having its pin 35 in interlocked engagement with notch 85. Also, it is to be noted that spring 94 spring-loads said latch, and biases said interlocked engagement; while springs 88 and 89 overbalance the forward portions of rocker arms GI and 62 and thereby urge the rocker arms assembly into their normally inoperative position, ready for actuation. Spring 97 is initially tensioned to urge the idler gear 43 assembly pivotally toward drum gear 32.

When the motor 44 is energized, the drive shaft 35 and its pinion 35 will be rotatively driven by said motor through means of belt d! and sheave 48. Consequently, the associated idler gear 43 will be freely driven by driving pinion 35, at the outset of a cycle of operation.

Assume also that the" winding drum is wound with a considerable number of turns of the working chain or cable resulting from the scoop having been drawn or hauled in from a previous cycleoii operation,

backwardly the idler gear assembly, generally, and

6 As the scoop I28, attached to the remote end of the chain IDS, is pulled back preparatory to placing it behind litter or other material to be moved, the winding drum rotates, responsive to said back pull, and pays-out the chain accord ingly. The chain leveling mechanism, being permanently associated with the drum shaft, will be driven in reverse by the rotatin drum, and accommodate the paying-out of the chain;

Since approximately a ten foot long swath of the scoop constitutes a load, the operator pulls back on the chain and places the scoop in the rear of the first ten foot section of the litter.

A small friction brake, consisting of a screw I4? threadedly engaged in and through the brace member 34, and having its end bearing against the drum flange, provides adjustable means for preventing over-run and back-dash that would result in the fouling of the chain or cable if not provided for.

The placement of the scoop behind a ten foot section of the litter is accompanied with a vigorous pull, jerk, or a snap of the cable, which reacts against the supporting roller 63, thrusting it downwardly. As a result of said thrust and resulting downward movement, the supporting rocker arms SI and 62 are pivoted clockwise about pins 58 and 59, against the tension of springs 88 and 89, respectively The lost motion travel between impact pin 81 and the lower edge of latch 84-, allows the rocker arm 6| to accelerate pivotally, whereafter it forcibly strikes and raises the latch 84, thereby releasing it from its interlocked engagement with pin 86, and allowing the idler gear 43 assembly to pivot forwardly about shaft 35, urged by tension spring 91, resulting in the engagement and enmeshment of the idler gear 43 with drum gear 32.

stop lug IIH engages with latch pin 86 and prevents the idler gear 43 from enmeshing too deeply and too tightly with drum gear 32.

At the first indication of gear engagement, the winding drum immediately commence to rotate because the driving pinion 35 and the associated idler gear are continuously rotating, their rotation having been initiated with the starting of the motor 44.

' As the winding drum rotates the chain is being wound around the drum, pulling forward the scoop and its load of litter I48.

The leveling mechanism, driven by the" drum shaft and gear train, directs the chain in neat layers on the drum.

The forward action of the scoop continues until the litter is pushed onto the movable conveyor I39 in the gutter I31. It is disohargeable therefrom to the outside of the pin barn, as desired.

At the instant the. last of the litter is discharged by the scoop onto the conveyor, the stop control lug I 2 I, predeterminately positioned on the chain I 06, engages with the trip mechanism bars I2 and I3, resulting in a backward pivotal displace- ;mentof said mechanism and associated push rod 14. Consequently the spring 8 I is compressed until the compressive force is sui'lici'ent to thrust the idler gear 43, particularly, from engagement with the drum gear 32. The rotation of the winding drum immediately stops; and the forward .relieved, thereby allowing the rocker arms GI and s2 to assume their initial nonoperating posit-ion urged thereup by spring 88.

'Ihe backward displacement of the idler gear assembly causes the latch 84 to slide along the latch pin 86 until the latch notch 65 interlocks therewith, being urged into engagement by the tension of spring 94, thus restoring and resetting the winch to its initial inoperative status, ready for another cycle of operation.

This cycle of operation is repeated for any loads of litter remaining in the pen.

The operative disposition and size of the idler and drum gears is such that they exert a resulting force that urges enmeshment rather than disengagement.

The yieldable engagement of the push rod 14 and the idler gear assembly, through compression spring 8|, provides an arrangement whereby disengaging energy is stored up in the spring 8| sufficient to break the operating enmeshment of the idler gear from the drum gear, and then thrust the idler gear assembly free and clear of the drum gear teeth, thereby preventing damage to the teeth otherwise resulting from the gears riding on their teeth tips, as when in close contact proximity to each other.

Figs. '7 and 8 disclose my second novel litter removal system, particularly one adapted to serve a dairy barn having a plurality of gutters. However, it will be obvious that this system can also serve a pen type barn.

In the conventional barn having a plurality of litter gutters, each gutter has installed at the end thereof a winch to serve that particular gutter. In other Words, a plurality of gutters would necessitate an equal number of winches. This invention enables one winch to serve a plurality of gutters, thereby eliminating and making unnecessary all but one winch. In serving a pen type barn this system is adapted to reach every portion thereof, as it is shiftable laterally of the pen.

Fig. '7 illustrates a fractional plan view of a dairy barn showing a table I49 suspended from a sliding track, disposed exteriorly of the barn, and adapted to be aligned with any one of a plurality of gutters.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Fi 7, including my winch, diagrammatically shown, mounted on said table.

Reference numerals II and I52 indicate a pair of parallel litter gutters in the floor I53 of a dairy barn having a communicating transverse discharge gutter I 54 exteriorly of the barn end wall I55 thereof. On the exterior or" barn wall I55 is horizontally disposed a U-shaped track I56, the inboard leg being longer than the outboard leg and secured to the end wall by means of bolts I51.

The supporting table I49, horizontally disposed and having one side slidably bearing against the lip I53 of the transverse gutter I54, is suspended from the track I56 through means of supporting arms I59 and ISI pivotally connected to a track engaging member I62 by pins I63 and I64, respectively. The supporting arms I59 and I6I have secondary arms I65 and I66, respectively, formed integrally therewith, to aid in sustaining said table. Said arms are secured to the table as by welding. The track engaging member IE2 is a hook-shaped element that interlocks with the track and is slidably associated therewith. My winch, diagrammatically shown at 26, is mounted on the table I 49 and has the remote end of its chain I05 attached to a scoop I65 which is disposed in a litter gutter I52. The control lug I7 is secured to the chain at a predetermined operative distance from the scoop that will be hereinafter described.

Openings I68 and Hit are provided in the end wall, at the discharge ends of the gutters I52 and I5I, respectively, to allow for the passage therethrough of litter from said gutters.

Disposed in the external gutter I54 is an endless belt conveyor I51 which is adapted to be driven by any means. The conveyor is of the conventional type having a belt trained over rollers as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The conveyor discharges at one end of the gutter, or into a vehicle (not shown) as desired.

Operation-Mimic gutter I52 is desired to be cleaned of litter the supporting table I49 with the winch 26 mounted thereon is disposed and aligned with said gutter by manually sliding it along the tract: I56 and adjusting its position accordingly.

When said gutter I52 is cleaned of litter the supporting table and the winch 2i] thereon is disposed and aligned with gutter l5I by manually sliding it further along track I56 and adjusting its position accordingly.

To facilitate sliding, the supporting table can be manually pulled slightly outwardly of the lip I58, pivoting about pins I53 and IE5, and manually moved to the right or left as desired.

When the apparatus is to be moved from one gutter to the other, the scoop can be passed through the openings I38 or I59 and moved externally of the barn along with the winch, or the scoop can be detached from the chain and moved intericrly of the barn from one gutter to the other while the winch is being moved exteriorly thereof. The detachment can be accomplished by unhooking hook 5 "i6 from the eye of eye-screw III which is threadedly engaged with the scoop.

To clean the fiat fioor areas 535?, I and 2%, the scoop is disposed thereon, and the accumulated litter is drawn through the openings IE8 or 65? by the winch disposed accordingly, or through additional accommodating openings. This simulates pen barn cleaning.

It is obvious that an excellent pen type enclosure can be provided by merely filling in the gutters I5I and I52 level with the fioor surface with. any solid material such as concrete. This type of arrangement can be likewise cleaned by merely shifting the winch along the track and drawing the litter through the openings I66 and IE9 in the end wall. Additional opening can be provided as needed. By laterally shifting the winch along the track every portion of the enclosure can be reached and cleaned with ease.

It is not absolutely necessary to a pen barn that the floor be plane and unbroken. Cattle can roam about in the enclosure shown in Fig. '7, including the gutters, and the pen will still lend itself to cleaning by this my second system of cleaning as indicated above.

The mechanical operations of the winch in paying-out the chain, engagement of the gears, hauling in a load of litter, and resetting the winch preparatory for another cycle of operations is the same as described hereinbefore in the operation of the winch disclosed forFigs. 1-6, inclusive.

Figs. 9 and i0 disclose a third novel barn litter removal system, adapted to serve a dairy barn having a plurality of gutters. However, it will be obvious that this system is also well adapted to serve a pen type barn, hereinafter provided for.

In the conventional barn having a plurality of litter gutters, a plurality of winches are needed, one for each gutter. This invention eliminates for naneuyering purposes.

assess;

- to of the working line of a winch.

Fig. 19 is a sectional View taken along line o Fi 9, including my winch diagram.- matic l sho n mounted on a hie e which also mounts a litter scoop- The working line of the winch is ftnfihgred to one of the eyeeserevys hown in la 9..

Reference numerals H2 vand H3 indicate a a r of pa a el litter utters in the po of a dai lea n ha in a c mm nicatin a s e discha ge utter 115 also in the floor thereof.

To the lower por'tifln of the end Wall studs are fill fid -screws llfi, I31, I18, I19 and I8!- -screw l ens U9 are al ned with the u ters and U2, resn ctirel fiyezscrews n5, "3 and are igned w th th mainin flo r rfa es,

MOiin e-d in the rans erse utter is an end ess belt en eye ii? embodyin driving ley I83 w c -is adapt d o bedr veny a motor, e i lle l ke i 9 she X- The eonveyor is of the conventional type ing a leather belt 184 rai d Over rolle s 1&5 whi a e rotatab y iimfiii 9E1 shaf s t at are secured. in the ide o the e de mem ers :81 n 1511 are provided 99 th rol ers n s a ed s mb 29 a d to the belt beeen th h st e Ti lie on end 1 9 dis ha ie fier y 9 the int a veh cle, or othermeans not h wn).

A eh le nes-s lly i i seted a its compris- 12s a Q% m unt d shaft 122 i el d t. lie-1 .9! wh 1&3 m n m n h d amma i ally h s a e spa-te i straddl n2, n3.

Th eens 9 th Wett n thei 45. .5 provided with a hook 154 hieh engages theeyeoi the all J Th c n ol .d is a r d e m n dl srs stance iron assess Said weets t eerr nte 'qi h v le '5 and is di esstle 1.1 utters 1 .291 111% Ha dl means .9. are $ll1 to the sicle her f ti es itter .Os .mt ihn to be cleaned, the vehicle [9,. Q u t re and e res theret di astracldle itter 1. and he wq k ri h with e 0 1; .1 4 i an hor to the yeeserew H; by engagin the hook 1.9 4 therewith.

Th placement vof thescoop lsfi behind .a ten foot section .of litter is accompanied with a' vigorous backward pull or jerk on the handle means I96. Thisresults in starting the'operation of the winch. Bearing clown onthe handles I56 and tipping the yehiole hack anion e lit wheels i as uffiei t te s i uie spent:

ing.

- h m hemcal ope at on of h win h! and the resetting of the winch preparatory for ane other cycle of operations is the same as described heeinbet r n ee eiiee 9 th Wi 2? a solos'ed for Figs. l-.-6, nclusive. 7

A the w nc finim rqtat tw nds u the hain thereb p llin there i cle-iere .19 were, inq ndins the litter till ahead oith scoop The fo ward agtion. of the steep eontinues unt l the litter is pushed on o the movable son: eyor 18 It i discherseah e thereby, to, the Quts de to a manure preader, r other m ans,

desireiietf the nstant he last or he litter is dis: char ed hr the sno p. onto the oonreyor, the stop emini his, .12 rede erminately positioned on e ehein lee, en a es w th the trip mechanism n t e win h stonnins the. winch. consequently, he forward moveme t of the scoop. terminates. he .999;: is new drawn hack and placed behind another ten oot section of litter and the forward movement repeated.

To ties-n utter 112, the vehicle and the winch mounted hereonare disposed astraddle said slit.- l. 12 he hook 13.4 engaged with the eye at enedey =screw I19, and the cyole of operations epeated- To glean the floor area I98 between the gutters 2 and N3, the Winch and vehicle are disposed. th e th 1 .0.91! [9! engaged with the eye ot'the aligned eye-screw I18, and the cycle of operations .rly the floor areas 19.9 and 201 can be cleaned of litter by disposing the winch and vehile thereon, enga n the hook 194" with eye,

- screws 1.8! and .115, respeotiyely, and repeating l his simulates pen type p r: arn that the floor he plane and unbroken.

Cattlecan roansahoutinthe enclosure shown'in Rig. 9 ineliiding the gutters, and the pen will 'still lend itself to cleaning j-byz-this .my third system fabarn o1eaning.-

' The oharacteristio features of this invention are: a Winch that, .operativelyresponsive to a Dull-pr ierkhn the working .oable; alwinch' com: prising a .disnlaceahle dr-i-yin'gpinion operative to p be engaged with and'disengagedifY-rom a winding drum .nnd gearassembly; a first litter removal system whereby .a winch .is pivotally mounted at oneendofanenenclosure, adapted to swing to the rightand to the leftzfor drawing litter .fi'om I various nortionsof said pen; a second litter removal system .wherebya .wi-nch is carried on a track, adaptedto be shifted alonglthe track, and draw litter from a pen or gutters; and a thirdlit ter remorral systeinwhereby a winch and scoop are .mounted on a vehicle, the .whrking cable being anchored to anyone of aplurjality of anchoring means, :whereby the vehicle pulls itself and. pushes the litterahead thereof.

Obyiously many modifications and variations of thewpresent inyentionare possiblein the light of the aboyeteachings. It istherefore to be uriderstood, that within thesoope of the-appended claims, the. invention may be practiced otherwise than specil'lioally.deso'ribemv What is xclaimedanddesired to be protected byLetters Patent .of the United. States is:

.1. A winehppm'ptising: abase; a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said :base; a pinion mount..-

, ed vrotaltively rig-id .onsaid shaft; a pairof spaoed tatably mounted across said spaced legs; a drum gear mounted rotatively-rigid with said drum; upstanding supporting means pivotally mounted on said drive shaft adjacent said pinion; a latch engaging pin on said supporting means; an idler gear rotatably mounted on said supporting means, disposed to enmesh with said pinion and being engageable with said drum gear and normally spaced from said drum gear; rocker arm members pivotally mounted on said legs, respectively, said arms having portions extending rearwardly and forwardly of their pivots; stop means on said legs for limiting the pivotal movement of said rocker arms; a roller rotatably supported across the forward portions of said rocker arms, said roller being disposed in a normal position upwardly of said drum; trip bar means pivotally supported across said rocker arms and disposed forwardly of said rollers; push rod means connecting said trip bar means and the upstanding supporting means, including yieldable linkage means operative to receive and store disengaging energy suilicient to overcome the operating enmeshment forces between the idler and drum gears and violently thrust apart said gears into a spaced relation; a latch bar pivotally mounted on at least one of said rocker arms, having a notch engageable with said latch pin to releasably hold said upstanding supporting means and associated idler gear in a normal inoperative spaced position relative to the drum gear, said latch bar being controlled by a pivotal movement of a rocker arm; an impact pin on at least one of said rocker arms operable to transmit a disengaging impact force to said latch bar; spring means acting on said latch bar for urging said latch bar into engagement with said latch pin; spring means acting on the upstanding supporting means for urging the associated idler gear forwardly and into enmeshment with the drum gear; spring means acting on at least one of said rocker arms for counterbalancing the forward portions of said arms and their associated assemblages and disposing the roller upwardly of drum in a normal position; a chain having one end attached to said drum and the other end portion trained over said roller, said chain being operable as the working chain, and also operable to transmit an unlatching force to said roller resulting in a pivotal movement of said rocker arm; a control lug on said chain for engaging with and actuating said trip bar; and chain leveling means drivable by said rotatable drum operative to direct the chain in rows on the drum.

2. A winch, comprising: a supporting structure; a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said supporting structure; a pinion mounted rotatively-rigid on said shaft; a winding drum rotatably mounted on said structure; a drum gear mounted rotatively-rigid with said drum; a supporting member pivotally mounted on said shaft; an idler gear rotatably mounted on said member, disposed to enmesh with said pinion and being engageable with said drum gear and normally spaced therefrom; a hauling line connected to said drum, the free end of said line being adapted to be connected to a scoop; latch means for releasably holding said member and associated idler gear in said normally inoperative spaced position, said'latch means supportingly engaging said hauling line intermediate its free end and the drum, and being releasably operative by a pull on said hauling line; thrust transmitting means connected to said member operative to disengagethe idler gear from the drum gear and impel said member and its associated idler gear into its normally inoperative position and into engagement with said latch means; a control lug fixed to said hauling lines operative to engage with and actuate said thrust transmitting means; and means acting on said member for urging the associated idler gear into enmeshment with the drum gear.

3. A winch, comprising: angularly displaceable driving means; winding means driveable by said driving means, said driving means being normally inoperatively spaced from said winding means; means for urging said driving means into driving engagement with said winding means; releasable means for releasably holding said driving means in said normally inoperative position; a hauling line having one end connected to said winding means and the other free end portion trained over said releasable means for controlling said releasable means, said releasable means being releasably responsive to a pull applied to the free end of said hauling line; a control lug on said hauling line; and reset means for resetting the driving means to its normal inoperative position and into engagement with said releasable means, said reset means being controlled by said control lug, and said reset means including a resilient link operative to receive and store disengaging energy sufficient to overcome the operating engaging forces between the driving and winding means, for suddenly disengaging said driving means from engagement with said winding means.

4. A winch, comprising: displaceable driving means; winding means driveable by said driving means, said driving means being normally inoperatively spaced from said winding means; latch means having a pivotal engaging arm for releasably holding said driving means in said nor mally inoperative position; supporting means transversely connected to said engaging arm and a hauling line having one end connected to said winding means and the other free end portion trained over said supporting means and directed downwardly therefrom so as to form a bend in the hauling line on said supporting means, said free end being adapted to be connected to a movable object, and said supporting means being releasably responsive, at said bend in the hauling line, to a pull on the free end of said hauling line.

5. A winch, comprising: angularly displaceable driving means; winding means driveable by said driving means, said driving means being normally inoperatively spaced from said winding means; means for urging said driving means into engagement with said winding means; latch means having a pivotal engaging rocker arm for releasably holding said driving means in said normally inoperative position; supporting means transversely connected to said engaging arm and a hauling line having one end connected to said winding means and the other free end portion trained over said supporting means and directed downwardly therefrom so as to form a bend in the hauling line on said supporting means, said free end being adapted to be connected to movable object, and said supporting means being releasably responsive, at said bend in the hauling line, to a pull on the free end of said hauling line.

6. A Winch, comprising: driving means and associated winding means, relatively displaceable and normally inoperatively spaced from each other; latch means having a pivotal engaging arm for releasably holding said winding means and said driving means in said inoperatively spaced relation; supporting means transversely connected to said engaging means and a hauling line having one end connected to said Winding means and the other free end portion trained over said supporting means and directed downwardly therefrom so as to form a bend in the hauling line on said supporting means, said free end being adapted to be connected to a movable object, and said supporting means being releasably responsive, at said bend in the hauling line, to a pull on the free end of said hauling line.

7. A winch, comprising: engageable driving and winding means mounted for relative angular displacement, and normally inoperatively spaced from each other; latch means having a pivotal engaging rocker arm for releasably holding said winding means and said driving means in said normally inoperatively spaced relation; supporting means transversely connected to said engaging means and a hauling line having one end connected to said winding means and the other free end portion trained over said supporting means and directed downwardly therefrom so as to form a bend in the hauling line on said supporting means, said free end being adapted to be connected to a movable object, and said supporting means being releasably responsive, at said bend in the hauling line, to a pull on the free end of said hauling line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 235,366 Lotz Dec. 14, 1880 1,007,912 Black Nov. 7, 1911 1,054,645 Hanslick Feb. 25, 1913 1,147,095 Hunt et a1. July 20, 1915 1,243,136 Broberg Oct. 16, 1917 1,482,469 Jespersen Feb. 5, 1924 1,885,069 Baker Oct. 25, 1932 2,170,504 Messer Aug. 22, 1939 2,457,904 Kenck Jan. 4, 1949 

